The YSL Logo: What the Cassandre Means and What YSL Stands For

YSL stands for Yves Saint Laurent, and the interlocking monogram is called the Cassandre. It is the gold hardware on most Saint Laurent bags and the heel of the Opyum heels. Here is the story, with the Saint Laurent edit to shop.

What YSL stands for

YSL are the initials of Yves Saint Laurent, the designer who founded the house in Paris in 1961. See who was Yves Saint Laurent.

The Cassandre

The logo was drawn in 1961 by A. M. Cassandre, the French poster artist, for the new house. The Y, S and L are stacked and woven together in a serif letterform. The house still calls the monogram the Cassandre.

Saint Laurent and YSL

In 2012 the ready-to-wear was renamed Saint Laurent, and the clothes carry a Saint Laurent Paris label, but the Cassandre stayed on bags, shoes and small leather goods. That is why a Saint Laurent bag says YSL. Read how to say it in how to pronounce Yves Saint Laurent.

Who was A. M. Cassandre?

Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron, who signed his work A. M. Cassandre, was a Ukrainian-born French graphic artist known for his Art Deco travel posters of the 1920s and 1930s and for typefaces such as Peignot. The YSL monogram was one of his late works.

How to spot the real Cassandre

On authentic Saint Laurent hardware the letters are crisp, evenly spaced and cleanly finished, with the S running through the Y and L. Buy from an authorised source, and check the craftsmanship of the hardware as much as the leather.

Saint Laurent Paris on the label

The ready-to-wear label reads Saint Laurent Paris, set in a plain sans serif, introduced in 2012. You will see it on clothes, inside shoes and on some bags, while the Cassandre stays as hardware.

Where you see it

As hardware on the Loulou, the Kate and the wallet on chain, as the heel of the Opyum, as a pull on zips, as embroidery on knitwear and as buttons. Some pieces carry it in gold, some in silver and some in black.

• Saint Laurent Simone Medium in Soft Leather, $5,190
• Saint Laurent Icarino in Shearling, $4,390
• Saint Laurent Loulou Small in Matelassé Lambskin, Deep Hickory, $3,760
• Saint Laurent Sunset Medium in Suede, $4,310
• Saint Laurent Mombasa Small in Pony Hair Leather, $5,340
• Saint Laurent Loulou Medium in Matelassé Suede, Caramel Cognac, $4,710
• Saint Laurent Loulou Medium in Matelassé Lambskin, Black, $4,310
• Saint Laurent Kate Small in Patent Leather, $3,040

See every piece on the Saint Laurent brand page.

Saint Laurent at a glance

• Founded: Paris, 1961, by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé
• First couture show: 29 January 1962
• Logo: the Cassandre YSL monogram, drawn by A. M. Cassandre in 1961
• Signature: Le Smoking, the first tuxedo for women, 1966
• Owner: Kering, since 1999
• Creative director: Anthony Vaccarello, since 2016
• Made in: Italy for most ready-to-wear, bags and shoes, with some pieces made in France and Japan

Buying Saint Laurent at Luxury Shoes

Every Saint Laurent piece at Luxury Handbags is 100% authentic and checked before dispatch. Each product page lists the composition, the country of origin, the sizes Saint Laurent makes for that style and the brand’s own fit note. Luxury Handbags ships worldwide by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority, insured and signature required. Most regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid, so local duties are payable on import. Browse the full Saint Laurent edit, and for sizing read the Saint Laurent size guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does YSL stand for?

Yves Saint Laurent, the designer who founded the house in 1961.

Who designed the YSL logo?

The French poster artist A. M. Cassandre drew it in 1961.

Why do Saint Laurent bags say YSL?

The fashion line was renamed Saint Laurent in 2012, but the Cassandre YSL monogram stayed on bags and accessories.

What is the Cassandre?

The name Saint Laurent uses for its interlocking YSL monogram.

By Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Luxury Shoes . Prices and availability checked on 18 October 2026.